The aviation community breathed a collective sigh of relief after Congress pushed through temporary reprieves on both FAA reauthorization and government funding before each lapsed on October 1, but industry and lawmakers alike called for continued urgency on passing longer-term bills.
Congress on Saturday passed a 47-day stopgap funding bill, through November 17, averting a government shutdown. That bill also included a three-month extension of the FAA’s operating authority, providing until the end of the year to hammer out final details of a five-year reauthorization package.
Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) called the reauthorization extension “the right thing to do” and said, “This will ensure continuity at the FAA and avoid pointless disruptions for the traveling public.” However, she expressed the importance of giving long-term authority.
Her counterpart in the House, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair Sam Graves (R-Missouri), agreed, but added: “Make no mistake, enacting a long-term bill as soon as possible is a top priority, as a series of short-term extensions will be detrimental to the FAA, airport infrastructure improvements, and the aviation industry.”
The House has passed its version of a five-year reauthorization bill, but the Senate version has been hung up over a few issues, notably the 1,500-hour requirement for airline pilots.
At the same time, Washington leaders also called the continuity in funding critical to maintaining a safe and efficient national airspace system.
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, however, also stressed, “We continue to underscore the urgent need for Congress to complete work on the annual appropriations bills to fund the federal government and a long-term FAA reauthorization.”
Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) president and CEO Eric Fanning added that the association was relieved that Congress averted “a harmful and unnecessary government shutdown,” and while a stopgap measure doesn’t provide certainty, it is far preferable to a funding lapse.